My 18 year old son Alex was born intellectually and physically disabled.
Our beautiful boy is unable to speak, he needs assistance with personal care, eating and daily routines that most people take for granted.
We are his VOICE.
As I am his full time carer, I have not been able to continue employment.
A child/adult with disabilities has many more health issues, of the so-called normal person.
This has put pressure on my husband, financially, to ensure our family have a quality of life.
If the NDIS had been established when Alex was born, the emotional and financial rollercoaster would have been so much easier, smoother.
The NDIS makes sense, this would plan services on a long term, whole of life basis.
This scheme needs to allow more service providers.
This would allow choice, the customer would choose the service that meets their specific needs and wants.
Person centred planning and services are the benchmark of the best practice.
A major benefit of a NDIS.
A proper level of funding to ensure that those with a disability will have a life style they deserve and provide families with confidence that they are well cared for, especially when they are no longer here or able.
No one is immune from disability, at sometime it will effect us personally or someone close to us.
Funding is of no benefit, if there is a shortage of service providers, waiting lists, restriction on time frames.
This currently has been a major problem.
The defining criteria should be needs, as determined by clear eligibility criteria, physical, intellectual and behavioural disabilities.
All we as parents/carers are asking for is a fund that will give the basic needs and wants of a marginal group of beautiful people who through no fault of their own, cannot care for themselves, today ,tomorrow or in the future.
On behalf of all parents/carers Australia wide of children/adults living with disabilities, who may not have the time, energy or frustration to articulate their view.
Thankyou for giving our family the opportunity to share our views with the commission.

Yours Sincerely,
Faye and Michael Bergin